So, college. It's like one in the morning and my roommate and I just really wanted some pizza--so we ordered some (Cottage Inn Pizza btw) and since we are both crazy tumblr addicts we've both seen that post where it's like "Send your cutest delivery boy!" and then they get like a dog or something.. Friends, I am here to inform you that this is not the reality of your average, sleepy college-town. Pizza boy=average (whatever), but pizza boy (we'll call him Bob) thinks I'm pretty funny and says "Since you seem to like jokes, here's this." *hands CD* First thought: It's going to blow up my computer the second I put it in. Second thought: It's German dungeon porn (idk what this actually is) What is actually is: a mix tape made by Bob the PizzaBoy. And this seems really cute until... This is the first mixtape or a mixCD or whatever the people call it, that anyone has given me. And it's just really shitty rap music. It's really shitty rap music by a guy who's calling himself Daniel Abercrombie And it's volume three. That means that there are two whole other volumes. Can I have a redo?
“Tak?” Daniel frowned as he took the seat opposite the blonde man who offered a half smile between sips of his drink. From the smell of it, Daniel knew it to be whiskey and from the knowledge of how his spouse operated knew it was not the liquor of choice for a happy Tak.
Daniel had received the call between his classes at the University for the dinner plans. He had hoped that things would begin to repair themselves over the past year and while there had been moments of normalcy, mostly with their son, Isaac, he hadn’t been able to touch Tak without a grimace of betrayal flashing before the other man’s facade of complacency took hold.
“Why Gotham? This isn’t really your usual pick for dinner...” The professor asked as he glanced towards the menu. The foreign feeling of dread washed over him. In the pit of his stomach he knew what was coming and felt the tendrils of fear begin their slithering ascent towards his heart.
“Felt like a change.” Tak answered before downing the last of his drink.
“That your first?” Daniel asked with a frown.
“Fifth.” The blonde man replied with sigh.
“Tak...” Daniel murmured. “Look I know things have been rough between us ever since--”
The other man smiled then, the action silencing Daniel before he could finish. “I tried.” He murmured as he signaled for the waiter to bring him another drink. “I tried for Isaac,” He breathed before he looked Daniel in the eye.
“But I can’t anymore.” Tak shook his head softly. “I love you, I think part of me always will. You... you helped me in so many ways that I... I don’t think anyone could ever know. But I can’t... I can’t be in a relationship with you... or anyone if I can’t trust them.” Tak paused to breathe, his eyes glossy as he looked the face of his once lover over.
“I know you tried and I did too but I really think--” He began once again.
“Don’t.” Daniel interrupted. “Tak, please. Don’t. Just, just give me more time to earn your trust back I’ll--”
“Daniel--”
“We’ll go on a trip, just the three of us, and then it’ll--”
“Daniel...”
“We can--”
“... Daniel.” Tak murmured as he reached across the table and touched the other man’s hand. “Daniel, stop it.”
It was then the waiter brought Tak’s sixth glass of whiskey. “Thanks,” He murmured before placing a twenty into the folder the boy placed at his side.
“I’m going to need one of those too,” Daniel managed with a slight crack in his voice. He waited until the waiter left once more before he spoke again, his eyes down cast towards the hand of Tak’s still touching his.
“So this is it then?” Daniel asked in a weak tone. “We just split and go our separate ways? Force Isaac to split weekends between parents and--”
Tak withdrew his hand before he spoke. “He can tell,” The blonde man murmured. “He can tell something is off. I think he gets that from you. The perception thing, I know I’m not that good at it.” He paused to sip at his drink before he continued.
“I don’t want him to grow up in a divided house, Daniel. We love him, we both want the best for him, and... and I want to end this... this game we’re playing so we don’t hurt him more. I want us to at least be... something.”
Daniel took a moment to think over his words as his own drink was placed before him then. “Something besides spouses?”
"Friends?" Tak offered with a whisper. "No, partners. We're in this together, for Isaac. He needs both of us and... I don't want to force him to choose."
Daniel said nothing then. He took downed his glass in a single breath and as he placed the empty drink down nodded in reply. "For Isaac." He croaked. He no longer had the courage to look Tak in the eye and the other man didn't have the heart to force him.
"You'll be here when we get back?" Isaac asked. His blue eyes wide expecting the answer to change after the hundredth time asking. Even at twelve, he was weary of his father, Tak, going on tour once again. "Promise you'll be here?"
"Isaac," Tak laughed softly as he placed a hand atop the young boy's head. "I'll be here when you get back. When you wake up the day after. When you get home from school. Everyday. I'm done touring. I promise." The blonde man answered with a small smile as his son, once again, hugged him tightly.
"Okay." Isaac sighed with a smile. "I'll take lots of pictures then for you Dad."
"You'd better." The blonde man replied with a laugh before kissing the pre-teen's head, much to dismay, and closing the door to the SUV. With only a step towards the front he paused next to the rolled down window to find Benji grinning at him.
"You sure about this? I don't wanna impose on you guy--" Tak began only to have Benji wave his words off with a grin.
"We love Isaac." Benji began, "And its been awhile since you and Daniel had any alone time, right? Go enjoy it. You can return the favor later, when you least expect." The brunette man joked with a wink.
"Har har," Tak laughed before reaching into the car to hug one of his best friends. "Thanks Benj, call if you need anything or if--"
"He'll be fine," Ben interrupted with a chuckle. The smile Tak offered was a welcome sight as he accepted the half hug from the blonde man reaching across Benji to do so.
"Should I get you two a room?" Benji chuckled as the hug ended. "I mean, it's not like I'm here or anything."
"Daddy when are we leaving? Is the beach very far?" Asked Shiloh's voice.
"Right now." Benji answered as he gave his blonde friend one last smile. Tak watched them drive from curb and down the road before heading back inside. It was true, there hadn’t been much if any time alone with Daniel at all. And for the first time in months Tak could feel a mischievous grin begin to curl his lips.
-----
Daniel came home as he always did, just past six, and as usual he rose a brow in curiosity at the atmosphere of his home. The lighting was dim and the house was oddly spotless. Dropping his things at the door he took only a few steps before stopping at the sight waiting for him at the base of the stairs.
There in a fine black button shirt and pants waited his husband of several years, Tak, grinning at him with a single red rose. “Welcome home, Handsome.”
“You’re back...” Daniel murmured in awe. “When did you--” He began as Tak quickly closed the gap between them with a kiss. Surprise quickly melted into passion as Daniel wrapped his arms about the other man. It had been so long since he’d held Tak like that. So long since they’d--
“I missed you,” Tak murmured as he ended the kiss. “But I’m not going anywhere else.” He finished as he met Daniel’s questioning eyes. “I promise.”
“I hope you keep that promise.” Daniel whispered back before closing the gap between them once more and stealing the question that parted Tak’s lips in the process.
-----
“Okay,” Tak breathed with a laugh. “I missed that.” The blonde man admitted with a wide grin. “I missed that a lot.” He sighed with another laugh following. The afterglow of sex numbing his mind he curled himself into his spouse as he always did and, after a moment of silence looked up at the other man in question. There was something missing. A witty comment, a jab at Tak’s lack of stamina, a jab at him being out of practice, and when none came he found it odd.
“Are you--” The blonde paused as he found Daniel looking down at him, tears brimming his eyes. “Babe, what’s wrong?” Tak questioned as he sat up at once. Ready to comfort his husband or kill any who might have harmed him while he was away.
“I’m so sorry,” He whispered. Tak frowned in reply.
“Sorry? Well,” The blonde man began with a half smile. “You aren’t the only one who’s rusty you kno--”
“I was with someone else.”
Tak laughed then. Unsure of what he’d heard. He couldn’t have heard what had just come out of Daniel’s mouth. Daniel would never-- He couldn’t have-- He wouldn’t--
“...what?” He murmured in confusion. “If thats some kind of new joke thats going around, I don’t get the punch lin--”
“Tak, I--” Daniel sat up as well to face his spouse. “I don’t...I was so lonely and we hadn’t spent much time together the last time you were home and--”
“Stop.” Tak whispered, his eyes shut as realization hit.
“It was a mistake. It only happened once and--”
“You cheated on me?” Tak asked, his eyes opening to stare into Daniel’s eyes with hope that it was a nightmare or some terrible joke.
“It was a mistak--”
“Oh my god.” Tak breathed. A sharp pain hit him then. An emotional knife twisting inside that stole his breath in clear disbelief. “Oh my god.” He repeated as he moved from the bed in a hurry, his boxers tugged on in a hurry as he stood on shaky legs to point at Daniel.
“You-- but you--” He began, unable to form coherent thoughts as the information sunk in. “We’re married.” He screamed.
“Ta--”
“We have a son.” The blonde man yelled. His head shaking as the words repeated in his head.
“And you waited until we-- you let me-- oh my god.” He moved then, quickly out of the bedroom and into their bathroom. Daniel moved to follow only to have Tak slam the door in reply. The clicking sound of the lock echoed in a deafening silence that came after and as Daniel slid to the ground, tears of regret paving stains down his face, he sat in wait for the punishment he knew would come.
And after a moment of silence it did. The sound he had sworn to himself and God that he’d never cause. The sound of Tak’s heart breaking.
----
Daniel didn’t know how long after the sound of the click that the front door called. The echoes of someone knocking, none too pleasantly, and with a glance towards the bathroom once dressed himself in a shirt and sweatpants to answer it.
He had only seen Evan give the look he received once before. The mixture of hate and disbelief the actor had quickly coined as his own. And Daniel said nothing as the blonde man moved past him in a hurry towards the locked door behind which Tak sat.
He waited in the kitchen, face in his hands as the muffled voice above him switched, and the horrible sound of Tak crying once again reached his ears.
----
“Tak,” Evan murmured as he continued to stroke the back of the other blonde’s head. “Oh Tak I’m so sorry.” He fought the urge to cry himself, the sight of his friend so distraught ate away at his heart, and the anger that built inside of him then did nothing to help.
“I’m so stupid,” Tak sniffled some time in between the fits of tears. “I should have quit sooner.” He breathed with a laugh of disbelief. “I should have--”
“Shhh,” Evan murmured in reply. “None of this is your fault.”
“But I--”
“No.” Evan replied firmly. “It’s not your fault.”
The blonde men shared a look then, Tak’s watery smile, and Evan’s sincere words filling the space of silence as the older man nodded slowly.
“Okay,” He managed. “Okay.”
----
Tak moved down the stairs slowly and reaching the bottom he turned towards the kitchen, where he knew the other man would be waiting. "I'm going to stay with Evan and Ron for awhile. Until Isaac comes home next week." Tak said, his voice hoarse and tired from the crying.
"I'll come back and we can...talk then." He managed.
Daniel said nothing. He knew the blonde needed time though he chanced a glance towards his other, he knew better to, knew it would only cause both of them more pain and yet he did so anyway.
Tak's face was pale, his eyes puffy and dull. He held a bag in one hand and sad smile upon his face. It was only when their eyes met did his bottom lip vanish between his teeth and his head shake as fresh tears began to swell.
It was then Daniel knew how much damage he had done.
There were few things in the world that could shut Thackery Avalon up. Surprisingly enough, the tall, grinning college boy standing but two feet away seemed to be one of them. Raf had no trouble at all chatting the attractive boy up, and for a moment, Tak took the time to admire the boy, whose name seemed to be Daniel.
“Tak?” Raf murmured, elbow deep in the dazed blonde’s side. “huh? Oh, uhh, yeah. Sorry. I’m Tak, Tak Avalon.”
Daniel only grinned as he offered the blonde boy a shake of hands. “Daniel Abercrombie.”
It didn’t take long for Tak to recover, the allure of the stage more then enough to clear his mind. That is, until Daniel joined him on the stage.
“You sing?” Tak choked, grinning almost nervously as the older boy smirked, offering the younger boy a mic.
“I dabble here and there.”
Stage fright was a foreign feeling to Thackery Avalon. He’d never before felt afraid to perform. But having the college boy sing next to him? Well, it stirred something in him. He’d performed with better singers before. Danced with better dancers. But the control, the ease in which the college boy sang brought a flush to the blonde’s face and a look that had even Raf’s brow raised in surprise.
He’d wandered away from the party, shaken, though not visibly, by his sudden stage fright or perhaps shock and it was only at the touch of a hand upon his shoulder did his thoughts part for any sort of notice of the hand’s owner.
“Sorry, did I scare you?” Daniel murmured, a half smile curling his lips as he took up a post next to the dazed blonde boy.
“No.” Tak managed, sucking down another beer, his sixth in an hour. “I was just thinking.”
“A rare sight according to Harriett.” Daniel mused with a small grin which earned a faint blush from Tak.
"Yeah?” Tak grumbled, “Well she’s got a big mouth.”
“She’s often right though.”
“Yeah. So you know her?”
“Yeah. We met when I first moved here.”
“Cool.”
“She also said you got into Juilliard.”
“Oh? What else she say?”
“Nothing much. Just that you’ve got some real issues.”
“Sounds about right.” The intoxicated blonde chuckled, finishing off the beer before glancing towards the older boy who looked down at him with a raised brow.
“Your friend was looking for you.”
“He’ll be fine. Prolly just ready to nag me into going home.”
It was Daniel’s turn to chuckle then, a sound that caused Tak to frown moments before he found himself hoisted into the air by two strong arms and a pair of blue eyes that nearly stopped his heart there.
“Go find your friend, Tak.”
“I--”
“If you have someone who cares about you that much,” Daniel shrugged then, letting Tak go to dust his clothes off a little. “Go find him and make sure he knows how much you appreciate it.”
The blonde boy frowned then, looking down and opening his mouth to dispute any facts Daniel may or may not of known about his feelings for Raf. That is, until he found a soft finger against his lips and a chuckle parting the older boys. “Don’t keep him waiting, handsome.”
It took a lot to make Tak blush, yet Daniel could make it happen effortlessly. The older boy removed his finger slowly and, with a brush of his lips against the younger boy’s cheek murmured his parting words before vanishing back into the crowd of bodies with an amused smirk.
“Anyone with enough passion to get into that school? Well, I think they’re pretty damn special.”
Tak didn’t move for some time. His eyes wide, face a deep red color, and he remained as such even as Raf finally found him several minutes later.
“Tak?” Raf frowned, shaking his friend slightly to break the daze Daniel had left him in. “Earth to Takky. You okay?”
“Huh?” The blonde boy blinked, shaking his head and looking towards his fellow high schooler to find the boy eyeing him cautiously. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m good.”
“You sure?” Raf frowned, pulling at the blonde boy’s hand to drag him back into Harriett’s club a moment later.
“Yeah,” Tak grinned, chuckling a moment later as he looked down. Daniel’s words replaying in his mind over and over. Special. Special. Someone who didn't even know him thought he was something. “Yeah, I’m good.”
